Local politicians should only be able to distribute two political leaflets a year, say some councillors.
Independents and Conservatives on Bath & North East Somerset Council have called for there to be a limit in order to minimise the environmental impact of political campaigning.
They are bringing a motion on the issue to Thursday’s, 19th March, full council meeting, ahead of the council’s local elections next year.
Independent Group leader Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North) said: “At a time when residents are being asked to play their part in protecting our planet, and with a climate emergency declared, it is vital that we lead by example.
“Political groups must take responsibility for the environmental impact of their actions.”
The idea is supported by the Conservatives on the council. Tim Warren (Midsomer Norton Redfield) explained it was not national Conservative policy but said: “This is just something us from B&NES consider a good idea.”
Mr Warren said: “[I] in the past have been as guilty as anyone else. I just think with the way things are now with social media etc, etc there should be better ways of doing it.
“The amount of paper that is used is unbelievable and unnecessary, I think. Years ago there was probably not much option — but now there is.”
The text of their motion states: “Bath & North East Somerset has declared a climate emergency and adopted a climate emergency strategy, committing the local authority to reducing avoidable paper consumption and minimising environmental impact.
“During the run?up to local elections, there is significant investment in printed campaign materials. This can lead to the production of large quantities of leaflets, contributing to substantial paper use and associated environmental impacts.”
It warns that even recycled paper required substantial energy, and that reduction is the most important part of “reduce-reuse-recycle,” although it acknowledges that paper leaflets play a role in reaching digitally excluded people.
The text of the motion states: “All political group leaders should write to their local party requesting that it minimise paper use in party-political campaigning and limit the total number of physical leaflets they distribute to no more than two per year.”
Motions are non-binding expressions of the council’s will, which are brought by political groups and voted on by all councillors at full council meetings. The Liberal Democrats run Bath and North East Somerset Council with 39 of the 59 seats on the council.
The Independent Group has five councillors and the Conservatives have two. Ann Morgan (High Littleton) defected from the Liberal Democrats to the Independent Group in January.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
